CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Organic synthesis
A student wants to convert 4-nitrotoluene into 4-aminobenzoic acid using the following two-step synthetic route.
Step 1: 4-nitrotoluene + hot alkaline → compound A Step 2: compound A + Sn / concentrated HCl → 4-aminobenzoic acid
Explain the type of reaction and reagents for each step, and discuss why carrying out the steps in the order shown is preferable to the reverse order. Suggest one possible by-product if the reverse order were attempted.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.
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